After starting their summer so well, making three astute decisions, Arsenal fans are back swimming in the mire of dissatisfaction. Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla all look like players who can make an impact over the course of the season. But given that the club has since sold Robin Van Persie and Alex Song, bringing them into profit for this transfer window, the majority of Arsenal fans have their fingers crossed that Arsene Wenger’s work in the market is unfinished.
It was a little disheartening then, to see Emirates 24/7 line-up Jack Wilshere as Robin Van Persie’s replacement and Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain as Alex Song’s replacement. That seems to suggest that Arsenal may not make additional signings this summer because they believe they already have the bodies in place to succeed. What’s more, they’re hardly straight swaps.
Don’t get me wrong: I understand just how good both players are. Jack Wilshere is a unique talent, capable of turning a game on its head. He’s got so many different attributes to his game. He can pick out a pass with ease, make space for himself and provide a wall in front of the back four. It’s worth remembering however, he’s been injured for over a year, made numerous attempted come-backs and failed numerous times. Suffice to say, he’s not the kind of player you can pin a season on. Not in his current fragile state.
There’s no guarantee that he’ll come back as strong as he was before his injury. It will take time for him to find fitness and ease his way back into the side. What’s more, whilst I get that both Wilshere and RVP are ‘special’ talents, they’re hardly like-for-like. I can’t help but feel that another addition will have to be made to replace the Dutchman.
Then there’s the Ox, who has spoken about replacing Alex Song: “They are big shoes to fill but you’ve got that anywhere at Arsenal. Alex Song was a great player for us and he was a big player for us — but we’ve got a strong enough squad. I’m definitely confident of that and I’m definitely confident of filling Alex’s role.”
Again, as good as the Ox is, I can’t see him replacing Alex Song. He’s hardly known for his tough-tackling, or his ability to shield the back-four. He’ll slot in neatly in Arsenal’s midfield, but he won’t fulfill the same role. But here, however, Arsene Wenger could look to Francis Coquelin to replace Alex Song. The young Frenchman has the talent and the passion to excel in Arsenal’s midfield.
What’s your take? Do Arsenal need to make further additions this summer?
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just get us llorente he understands movement because thats what spain is all about thats whats missing movement know one tell me he’s too slow we need him to score not run and he abused man utd the best team in the premier league…..
Get off Arsenal’s back. It is really boring all this doom and gloom rubbish. They will take time to bond. It is only natural. They have played 2 teams who were determined to park the bus. If it’s still the same 15 games in then print this stuff but not after 2 games.
The season has just started lets wait n c wat the boys cn do
yes i agree wit u. Arsenal need player like llorente & sahin, i believe arsenal can win trophy this players!
So was Song covering the back four? Why don’t you tell people what is right other than jumping on the popular bandwagon that Song was a defensive midfielder? Arteta was, and he still is. He is the furthest behind who picks the ball from the defenders distributes it to perfection.(last season with the highest success rate of 91%)
If as you say Song was a defensive midfielder, then he was one of the most ineffective in that position, because Arsenal conceded the highest No. of goals in the top ten teams in the league. He forgot his role and marauded forward every time Arsenal had the ball, conceding goals for fun on the counter. If it had not been for his assists, Song would have been a liability, not an asset, because he didn’t defend at all!
Besides, there’s only one Song. Now that he went, other players of other qualities can come in to replace him, and Chamberlain is one of them. He may not have the mass of Song, but he certainly has the technique and skill to do it. Song made a name for himself last season for being creative, and nothing else. The other side of his game was not useful to Arsenal. He was suspended for three games for a stamp on Joey Barton, then he served further three games, the first of those coming as a result of getting a fifth yellow, and the two for getting ten yellows. Song also made the list of bad boys for making the 2nd most fouls in the league (101), only three less than Norwich’s Grant Holt. If making fouls makes a team better, you’ll be able to tell me.
As for the tackling , Song didn’t rank even among the top five in the league, with players such as Yohan Cabaye, a playmaker, having made the most tackles. This therefore confirms that you don’t have to be a defensive midfielder to make very many tackles in a football game.
In conclusion, I’m sure Chamberlain can fill the hole left by Song, because, he’s a better attacking player, is more talented of course, and offers a far bigger goal threat than Song who even in scoring positions would look for “that pass”! No wonder, he had only one goal to his name last season, in more advanced role!